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Pain Management Physicians


Zeb

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My neighbor Dr. Lastra seems to be the go-to guy for pain management here. I think the office phone is 766-3253.

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Make a copy of the prescription before you turn it in showing the doctor's name, address, etc. along with the medication with your name on the prescription.

The prescriptions we have are already filled. I suppose I could ask the pharmacy if they could provide copies of what we gave them. Also, our address on the scripts is different from our physical address.

Goodness. Is that what all expats have to do to cross with the medications?

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No. All expats do not have to go through that. And, you might not either. It depends on what drugs and how much of them you are bringing in plus the luck of the draw at customs. I think people are giving you the worst case scenario of what you might possibly run into. Best case scenario is you have your meds in your bag and no one even looks st them which is what has always happened to me.

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No. All expats do not have to go through that. And, you might not either. It depends on what drugs and how much of them you are bringing in plus the luck of the draw at customs. I think people are giving you the worst case scenario of what you might possibly run into. Best case scenario is you have your meds in your bag and no one even looks st them which is what has always happened to me.

Oh! Thank goodness.

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Zeb, since I was lucky and got my doc to give me a four month supply, I just made sure that I had the original prescription bottles, and a very short letter from my doc explaining my condition and that I was authorized to carry four months worth of meds. Very simple. Customs didn't even care. And the days of getting four months at a time are over. Customs did, however, confiscate my dried doggie jerky treats! Boo!

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I've looked through the forum for some comments and have located some names and some with phone numbers. I'd like to know if some of these speak English and if they have an e-mail address so appointments can be made without a phone call as we are not in the area.

I checked the web and most comes up in Spanish, so I'm a bit stuck at the moment.

These are the sources I have found so far:

Insitution Jaliscense de Alivo al Dolor Cuidados Paliativos - I'm assuming there must be several at this organiztion, however, don't have any names.

Alfonso Maytorena - evidently he comes to Dr. Valera's office

Juan Pablos Loza Mendez

Guillermo Archiga Ornelas

It is run by or part of Sec Salud. They have student doctors all over. Some of the Drs do not speak any english, but they will grab another Dr. OR

in some cases they will grab a student Dr that speaks english OR is actually an American going to Medical School here.

There is also DR. Garcia at Mascaras. He has the additional Lic needed for special Prescriptions AND he speaks perfect english.

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I've looked through the forum for some comments and have located some names and some with phone numbers. I'd like to know if some of these speak English and if they have an e-mail address so appointments can be made without a phone call as we are not in the area.

I checked the web and most comes up in Spanish, so I'm a bit stuck at the moment.

These are the sources I have found so far:

Insitution Jaliscense de Alivo al Dolor Cuidados Paliativos - I'm assuming there must be several at this organiztion, however, don't have any names.

Alfonso Maytorena - evidently he comes to Dr. Valera's office

Juan Pablos Loza Mendez

Guillermo Archiga Ornelas

It is run by or part of Sec Salud. They have student doctors all over. Some of the Drs do not speak any english, but they will grab another Dr. OR

in some cases they will grab a student Dr that speaks english OR is actually an American going to Medical School here.

There is also DR. Garcia at Mascaras. He has the additional Lic needed for special Prescriptions AND he speaks perfect english.

I will also say this.

If you go to the Lab in Guad for the medicine it will be in some cases more than 50 % less

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Are you talking about being able to get opiods for 50% less in Guad? Which lab?

I have several names of physicians and have seen a couple, however, the problems seems to be they don't prescribe enough of a dosage to get relief and get out of pain. It is proving difficult to be a matter of finding someone who doesn't insist on starting over with their idea of a concoction, which has already been tried and failed, instead of prescribing what we know works.

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Zeb, something Arjay mentioned I'd like to add to: expect the prices for opiates here to be much, much higher than NOB. My opiate med in the US (with no insurance) is about US$70 a month. Here, it is US$300 a month. Try and get as much as possible NOB and bring it here with all your paperwork so you have no issues with customs.

Go straight to the Lab is more than half off local chapala price and half off other specialty guad pharmacies and on comparison $150dlls NOB here (At Lab)$847pesos. But AT THE LAB not the local or specialty pharmacies in guad

PISA.com.mx select english. they also have a 800 number and and extension with english. there is a little store front attached to all the Pisa labs on ave espana. Pisa Makes it and sells it to all the pharmacies who in turn mark it up of course. At the lab store front there is a price but it is a suggested price for the other pharmacies it will ring up close to half price. If you are getting it from a Local Chapala Pharmacy then its even more than suggested price because they are going to get it in guad.

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Are you talking about being able to get opiods for 50% less in Guad? Which lab?

I have several names of physicians and have seen a couple, however, the problems seems to be they don't prescribe enough of a dosage to get relief and get out of pain. It is proving difficult to be a matter of finding someone who doesn't insist on starting over with their idea of a concoction, which has already been tried and failed, instead of prescribing what we know works.

Go straight to the Lab is more than half off local chapala price and half off other specialty guad pharmacies and on comparison $150dlls NOB here (At Lab)$847pesos. But AT THE LAB not the local or specialty pharmacies in guad

PISA.com.mx select english. they also have a 800 number and and extension with english. there is a little store front attached to all the Pisa labs on ave espana. Pisa Makes it and sells it to all the pharmacies who in turn mark it up of course. At the lab store front there is a price but it is a suggested price for the other pharmacies it will ring up close to half price. If you are getting it from a Local Chapala Pharmacy then its even more than suggested price because they are going to get it in guad.

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  • 4 weeks later...

About a month has passed since I posted on this topic. I want to comment on the fees the pain management doctors charge.

Dr. Archiga Ornelas - 800 pesos for a consult and 700 pesos per script.

I don't know what the others charge, however, 700 pesos per script seems REALLY expensive to me. He knows you have come back every 30 days for pain meds, so if you do the math, it's a lot of money. On top of that, you have to pay for the medication itself.

I'd appreciate some input here if anyone has different experiences, specific only to the pain specialists.

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I just edited my previous post. I had left off the zeros! I am talking about Opiods. In the US--they cannot be called in and they are not at no cost. That would be just too customer/patient oriented (sarcasm). We are treated like criminals here, believe me.

Serenity--Is your doctor a pain specialist/anesthesiologist to make sure we are making a fair comparison?

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Jeznel: Thank you for the recommendation. Can you tell me what the fees are for a visit and script writing (if any).

Also, interesting that you say he is compassionate. This is a quality consistently lacking in pain doctors. They continually want to reduce your dosages for no good reason, even when it is obvious your condition has no way of improving, but only worsen. Logic goes out the window and compassion is non-existent. They don't sufficiently take into account the patient's input and what they can tolerate.

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Zeb, no zeros, ok, now it makes sense. I was thinking, what a deal!

No, my guy is not a specialist. And until you know what meds work for you, its an often Herculean task in frustration that can take years to figure out, you need a specialist who really understands that stuff. And yes, the judgmental stares from pharmacy techs is something I happily don't have to deal with here. I hope you've had some success in finding a doc to alleviate the pain issue.

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  • 1 year later...

I am reactivating this topic as over a year has passed and I'd appreciate some recent input on pain management doctors as well as primary care physicians.  We have had someone, but quality of care has deteriorated.  I am sure there are others would will benefit from recent comments as well.

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Very helpful discussion. The big problem I have with pain killers is OIC,  That is constipation.As I progress through stronger pain killers the problem get's worse.

I have just heard of a drug called Targin which contains Oxycontin and Naxalone. the Naxlone prevents constipation. I presently take Tylex CD and as time goes by it is not as effective' I am reluctant to take the next step to Oxy. I continue to research Targin and Mexican availability

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I have a question relative to the credentialing and training in pain management in both the US and in Mexico. What cedula, advanced course of specialized study, fellowship would be required for a doctor to hold themselves out here as a "specialist" in pain management? Is there a consejo (professional council for conferences, training and certification) in Mexico for those prescribing narcotics--any legitimate post-residency programs that your physician can point to proving that they have a sub-specialty and board certification in pain management that is widely recognized in Mexico?

In the US, the training is described as follows:

The widely accepted standard for pain management education today is a fellowship (additional training beyond residency which occurs after graduating from medical school) in pain management. Most fellowship programs are associated with anesthesiology residency training programs. There are also fellowship programs associated with neurology and physical medicine and rehabilitation residency programs. The fellowship consists of at least one year of training in all aspects of pain management after completion residency training. When a physician has become board certified in their primary specialty and has completed an accredited fellowship, they become eligible for subspecialty board certification in pain management by the American Board of Anesthesiology, The American Board of Psychiatry and The American Board of Neurology, or the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. These three are the only board certifications in pain management recognized by the American College of Graduate Medical Education.

Any equivalencies here?  

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Yes. Those who are accredited pain specialists are Anaesthesiologists first.

Pain meds are strictly controlled in Mexico. The prescription is in triplicate and has a bar code monitored by the Secretaria de Salud. One copy for the Doctor, one for the place the prescription is filled and one for the patient. I am looking at my hubby's copy right now.

His pain specialist was in Guadalajara and her name is Doctora Karla Margarita Madrigal Renteria. Universidad de Guadalajara. Cedula Profesional #4145168 and Cedula Especial #4964039. CMA-6510

Anestesiologia, Clinica de Dolor y Cuidados Paliativos

Avenida. Plan de San Luis 1776, Colonia San Bernadino, C.P, 44260, Guadalajara, Jalisco...Telephone: 3823-1002 (I think there's another couple of 3's at the beginning.)

She is compassionate and caring and speaks excellent English. She was very responsive and even called him back when she was on vacation. They e-mailed, they skyped and they talked by phone.

The problem was that nothing worked. Now, I have continued to do research and it has been discovered that genetics prevent some people from utilizing pain meds...in others, the pain meds cause the worsening of pain. As in all things pharmaceutical, one size does not fit all and it's hell trying to find the one that does fit. These things, I believe, are at the bottom of the current epidemic of opioid overdoses.

http://www.painmedicinenews.com/download/GeneticTesting_PMN0413_WM.pdf

https://www.crediblemeds.org/files/3913/6973/9557/pgx-brochure2011.pdf

http://www.spine-health.com/blog/how-pain-killers-sometimes-increase-chronic-pain

May everyone who needs pain meds find what works for them. Pain is a four letter word.

 

 

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I have read some extraordinary stories about the use of medical marijuana as a cure for chronic pain.

This article is pretty well balanced, but a little out of date.

http://www.nap.edu/read/9586/chapter/6

Medical marijuana is almost always a strain of Indica cannabis (contains both THC and cannibols. 30% of the people on legalized medical marijuana use it to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis. You don't have to smoke it either, you soak it a couple weeks in brandy (or tequila, or your choice) and just drip a few drops under your tongue. You can also rub this medicinal brandy on your skin and joints to make pain go away. Mexican grandmothers have been using this for centuries, as did the Incas. In the US and Canada a "Tincture of Cannabis (Indica)" was widely sold by drugstores until well into the 1930's. A lot of people make their own today, it is called "Golden Dragon" for the powerful strains of marijuana flowers and "Green Dragon" if made from trimmings.

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How about a different perspective.  I had an MRI several years ago and at that time had 3 herniated discs, 2 in the lower back near the tail bone and one in the mid back, probably from an epidural during child labor 20 years earlier.  I didn't want to take prescription pain relievers because they made me so sick.  I took a lot of OTC for a while, grin and bared it.  Then was able to strengthen my back with an inversion table and 3 months bed rest.  Fast forward to a couple of years ago.  I was slowly declining physically.  Many problems with parasites.  Fast forward to the fall 2 years ago, I believe I had the chikungunya virus, now not only did I have restless legs in my lower body but in my arms and hands.  The joint pain was so intense and worst headache of my life.  After 3 weeks the headache and severe joint pain was gone but I was left with the restless legs/arms/hands.   I was then told I had fibromyalgia(so don't know how to fix me).  I'm not going to accept fibromyalgia, I have too many things that I'd like to enjoy and do in this life.  I'm not even 50 years old and yet I imagined that's what someone in their late 80's may feel like or someone about to draw their last breath.  Which I hope not!   This last fall, I'd had enough.  I decided that I was well!  I prayed about it and asked the Lord to help me fix myself if I wasn't going to have an instant miracle.   This last January, after being told I had colitis and candida, I went researching how to cure that and found Dr. Robert Morse ND, in Florida.   The man loves complex things but he simplifies it so people like myself  can understand.  I started deep detoxification and cell regeneration the next day.  How?  I started eating fruits, berries and melons.  Still am.  Within a week, brain fog gone.  Brain fog was so bad, I had to write down everything.  My integrative doctor couldn't believe how bad it was.   The joint pain also left for a month until the Dr. Morse Herbs arrived.   There's been some healing crisis' (feeling the way I did before I started) but they last a few days, maybe a week and then I feel better.  My lower back is doing really well.  Ever have your eyes checked with iridology?  It's amazing that we can see what's going on internally through the iris' of our eyes.  It shows my weaknesses in my glands, even my leg and all the sulfur built up in my colon/transverse colon and head from pharmaceutical drugs and all of the backed up stagnant lymph fluid in my body!  Ever wondered why your eye color changes?  It reflects what's in our bodies.   I had never considered that inflammation which is acidosis was the reason for my pain.  Acidosis, chewing on my body...OUCH!!!  Of course there are situations where a pharmaceutical drug is needed but the goal is to get well, not have to stay on them for the rest of our life while those acidic things chew on our insides making us sicker.   Here we live in a paradise of sorts on earth, where fruit is in abundance year round and we can plant fruit trees in our yards, why not consider the power of fruit for healing ;0)  I know this isn't for everyone and I'm not giving medical advice, just mentioning that there are options and this is definitely working for me.   In fact, my energy level after the first week was manic! lolol I could sleep but it was great!  My energy level has greatly improved, I'm doing so many more things now than I was able to do in January.   Best well wishes to all of you!

 

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